The First Intentional Acid Trip

Dr. Hofmann, often called "the father of LSD," was the first person to experience the drug's psychedelic effects. In fact, he realized that they existed three days before Bicycle Day, when he accidentally ingested some LSD and reported feeling somewhat strange. The following Monday, he intentionally took .25 milligrams of LSD, and embarked on the world's first official acid trip. Unfortunately, it was not a very pleasant one. "...My condition began to assume threatening forms," he recollected in his autobiography. "Everything in my field of vision wavered and was distorted as if seen in a curved mirror. I also had the sensation of being unable to move from the spot." Later, he became convinced that his neighbor was a witch, and felt that "[a] demon had invaded me, had taken possession of my body, mind, and soul."